Solo Warrior 44: The Final Question

Bungleau · 01-19-2004, 10:43 PM

Continuing on from Stackman’s Adventures, Chapter forty-two

As Stackman’s party escorted the frustrated demi-god from the heart of the Great Stack, Missy Hissy stepped forward after disrupting Cet’s attack. “Spawn of evil!” she cried. “You have done naught to deserve this land, and I will see that you leave it.”

Picking up her Mavin sword, charged from the black fire after burning the lich’s heart, she swung mightily, Mavin in one hand, enchanted Wakizashi in the other. The second weapon did no damage, but it did serve to keep Cet confused as to which weapon was actually causing him pain. Still, the Mavin did not do as much damage as Missy’s enchanted wizard’s blade would have, and the battle promised to be long and torturous.

Cet roared his displeasure and launched firestorm after firestorm at Missy, expecting her to crumble to the ground, collapsing into ashes as so many had done before. Yet again, Jathil’s Gezurite mind tricks, combined with the enchantments she had applied at the wizard’s guild, left Missy standing tall and untouched from the magical fire.

“For what do you battle, child,” asked Cet as he threw a meteor at her. “Does your precious Kerah care whether you succeed... or fail?”

“She’s not mine,” swore Missy, striking a blow with the Mavin that struck heavily into the unpadded area near Cet’s ear. “And success is all up to me.”

Cet grunted from the hit. “Success... if you defeat me, what will that mean? She can give you nothing of what you desire. I can give you your true family, your true father.”

“What do you know of that?” spat Missy, watching her blades bounce harmlessly yet again.

“I have watched all her pitiful ploys, seen her treachery for generations. You know of the children she betrayed with the lich’s help; did you know there were a dozen others like him, all eager to betray everything for the trinkets she promised? Every year another family wailed the disappearance of their child. Every year, another child took another of her pathetic tests of adulthood. Every year, another child was crushed, thrown away like the crust at the end of a piece of bread. And every year, she dumped the body of that used-up child back at their original family, ripping afresh the wound of losing their child.”

“I know of that,” said Missy through clenched teeth. “At least, most of it. But none of that matters to me.”

Cet threw an icestorm, trying a different spell. “Three children survived her twisted test of manhood. Or womanhood, if you prefer. You. D’Soto. And Anephas. Of the three, you are the only one who has not died yet.”

Missy thought grimly of the flashes of light she had experienced early on, when the gods cast their reverse time spells in times of great tragedy and disaster. “Perhaps. But what does that matter?” She launched her blades again, taking satisfaction in the gout of blood that was welling from Cet’s cheek.

Cet grinned evilly, the blood on his head shining crimson in the flickering torchlight. “Do you think she cares for this place? Do you think she cares for you? For those you claim to defend? She thinks only of herself. First, last, and always.”

“And you are different?” asked Missy.

“I make no pretenses of what I want,” responded Cet. “I want this land. I want to mold it to my will. I want to bring forth new and wondrous things that interest me. I want to mix the hydra and the jungle lily to see what they might make. I care little for the other beings in this world, but neither do I pretend to care. I offer them what they want for their assistance, and deliver what I promise. They call me the lord of evil, but what evil is in the truth? Is there not more evil in lies?”

“Evil is neither truth nor lie,” said Missy, swinging the Mavin with renewed vigor. “It simply needs to be removed.” Her blade again struck true, drawing another line of ghoulish ichor across Cet’s face. She had been striking true, and dripping lines criss-crossed Cet’s demonic head.

As Missy and Cet circled each other yet again, Stackman’s adventurers entered back into the room. The barbarian drew another Mavin sword, and the zenmaster stepped forward with the staff of death. Each was glowing with the unholy essence of the black fire. Missy glanced at the elite group, and sheathing her wakizashi for a moment, pulled her own staff of death from her pack and tossed it toward the valkyrie, allowing another combatant into the fray. “Catch!” she cried.

The valkyrie reached out to catch the staff, but at her touch, it shimmered for a moment, and then exploded with tremendous force, releasing all its black fire-induced energy in a matter of milliseconds and sending everyone in the room tumbling head over heels from the concussion. Except for Cet, that is, who tumbled forehead over chin. Apparently some things were not allowed to cross between domains in the Gael Serran, and violating those laws carried severe penalties.

The wizard and the bard were furthest from the explosion and recovered first. Taking stock of the party’s status, they doled out healing as fast as they could spin spells. They had heard of what happened when a wand’s body was broken, and this was far, far worse.

“Stop!” called Cet. “I have seen enough. I have a bargain for you. You have proven yourself to be a worthy adversary. Have you considered how much more... formidable... we could be as allies? I must inhabit a new host. Think of what you could do with my power! We could rule this land together. Will you let me take over your body as my new host?”

Missy stopped dead in her tracks, the events of the past several months flying to her head. Join Cet? Become a god, like Kerah? Return to Kerah what she had given Missy over these years, and now, these past few minutes? What did she care of good or evil now? Why was she here, anyway? To fulfill Kerah’s bidding... perhaps. Did she want to? After all Kerah had put her through?

But... could she trust Cet? Was this another bargain like the lich’s bargain, covered in promise but built on hatred and abuse? Or could she override his will, much as she was overriding his physical abilities now in battle? She had learned much in the recent past... but what had the dark pharaoh learned in the past nine hundred years?

She didn’t know. And as she contemplated, the zenmaster spoke her name.

[ 02-05-2004, 11:50 PM: Message edited by: Bungleau ]

macoati · 01-20-2004, 01:35 AM

**AAAAAAAAUGH!**

So close...so close... but now I have to go to bed...

**Just one more chapter? OK, Dad? Please?**
*No. Go to sleep. NOW! If I catch you with that flashlight again you'll be very sorry!*
**OK, Dad.**
~Bedroom door closes quietly...moments later the closet door opens and closes...a flashlight brightens the blanket darkened closet. The book lays open to the last chapter...~

LiOnHe@rT · 01-20-2004, 04:28 AM

OMG OMG OMG!!! so exciting!!! but i still dun understand the part where the staff of death exploded when the valkyrie catched it, will some1 explain it to me pls?

bsftcs · 01-20-2004, 07:24 AM

Forehead over chin. [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I really like that one. You had me laughing all the way there. Again. Excellent chapter. Now... does anyone want to know what happens next?

Bungleau · 01-20-2004, 09:39 AM

LiOnHe@rT, the explosion of the staff of death is a little artistic license. We have the merging of two realities in this story, and in each reality, there is a staff of death and a mavin sword. These two items are very special, and have both been charged in the black fire, making them more special.

So... what happens when something from one reality climbs over into the other reality? In the case of something so special, I don't think it will be very good; the gods (and the laws of nature) cannot allow the same thing to exist twice in the same reality.

So when someone from the first reality touches the staff from the second reality... [img]graemlins/blownup.gif[/img]

Leastways, that's what I was trying to get to. Perhaps I needed some more explanation in there.

And Bsftcs, I'm *really* curious about what happens next

Lord · 01-20-2004, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bsftcs:
Forehead over chin. [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I really like that one. You had me laughing all the way there. Again. Excellent chapter. Now... does anyone want to know what happens next?

Want to know what happens next? Why on Earth would I want to know? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Great chapter, as always!

Wyvern · 01-21-2004, 04:13 PM

ooooooooooo!!!! This is so terrific!!!
I'm really enjoying the weaving of the two stories together - VERY exciting!!!

More More More!!!

Wyv

bsftcs · 01-22-2004, 10:12 AM

I expect to have the next chapter ready by Sunday. [img]smile.gif[/img]

macoati · 01-25-2004, 05:09 PM

*whine...whimper*

It's Sunday here...and almost Monday there, bsftcs...

*this closet is starting to stink since I've been here for a week [img]smile.gif[/img] *

bsftcs · 01-25-2004, 06:56 PM

And so your patience shall be rewarded.

Rewarded twice even.

And hey, we have barely reached midnight in the Central European time zone, so I am not even letting you down. [img]smile.gif[/img]

01-20-2004, 01:35 AM	#2
macoati Manshoon Join Date: February 27, 2002 Location: WY Age: 55 Posts: 184	AAAAAAAAUGH! So close...so close... but now I have to go to bed... Just one more chapter? OK, Dad? Please? No. Go to sleep. NOW! If I catch you with that flashlight again you'll be very sorry! OK, Dad. ~Bedroom door closes quietly...moments later the closet door opens and closes...a flashlight brightens the blanket darkened closet. The book lays open to the last chapter...~ __________________ Macoati

01-20-2004, 04:28 AM	#3
LiOnHe@rT Baaz Draconian Join Date: August 6, 2002 Location: Singapore, youngest ever!!! Age: 35 Posts: 731	OMG OMG OMG!!! so exciting!!! but i still dun understand the part where the staff of death exploded when the valkyrie catched it, will some1 explain it to me pls? __________________ <img border=\"0\" alt=\"[knight]\" title=\"\" src=\"graemlins/knight.gif\" /> I am the Glacial Knight and will purge thy evil! (though this knight doesnt look so icicle...)

01-20-2004, 07:24 AM	#4
bsftcs Red Dragon Join Date: January 23, 2003 Location: Denmark Age: 45 Posts: 1,577	Forehead over chin. [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I really like that one. You had me laughing all the way there. Again. Excellent chapter. Now... does anyone want to know what happens next? __________________ Moderation is good so long as it is not exaggerated!

01-20-2004, 09:39 AM	#5
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	LiOnHe@rT, the explosion of the staff of death is a little artistic license. We have the merging of two realities in this story, and in each reality, there is a staff of death and a mavin sword. These two items are very special, and have both been charged in the black fire, making them more special. So... what happens when something from one reality climbs over into the other reality? In the case of something so special, I don't think it will be very good; the gods (and the laws of nature) cannot allow the same thing to exist twice in the same reality. So when someone from the first reality touches the staff from the second reality... [img]graemlins/blownup.gif[/img] Leastways, that's what I was trying to get to. Perhaps I needed some more explanation in there. And Bsftcs, I'm really curious about what happens next __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

01-21-2004, 04:13 PM	#7
Wyvern Ironworks Moderator Join Date: January 7, 2001 Location: Rural Paradise, MI Posts: 5,701	ooooooooooo!!!! This is so terrific!!! I'm really enjoying the weaving of the two stories together - VERY exciting!!! More More More!!! Wyv __________________

01-19-2004, 10:43 PM	#1
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Continuing on from Stackman’s Adventures, Chapter forty-two As Stackman’s party escorted the frustrated demi-god from the heart of the Great Stack, Missy Hissy stepped forward after disrupting Cet’s attack. “Spawn of evil!” she cried. “You have done naught to deserve this land, and I will see that you leave it.” Picking up her Mavin sword, charged from the black fire after burning the lich’s heart, she swung mightily, Mavin in one hand, enchanted Wakizashi in the other. The second weapon did no damage, but it did serve to keep Cet confused as to which weapon was actually causing him pain. Still, the Mavin did not do as much damage as Missy’s enchanted wizard’s blade would have, and the battle promised to be long and torturous. Cet roared his displeasure and launched firestorm after firestorm at Missy, expecting her to crumble to the ground, collapsing into ashes as so many had done before. Yet again, Jathil’s Gezurite mind tricks, combined with the enchantments she had applied at the wizard’s guild, left Missy standing tall and untouched from the magical fire. “For what do you battle, child,” asked Cet as he threw a meteor at her. “Does your precious Kerah care whether you succeed... or fail?” “She’s not mine,” swore Missy, striking a blow with the Mavin that struck heavily into the unpadded area near Cet’s ear. “And success is all up to me.” Cet grunted from the hit. “Success... if you defeat me, what will that mean? She can give you nothing of what you desire. I can give you your true family, your true father.” “What do you know of that?” spat Missy, watching her blades bounce harmlessly yet again. “I have watched all her pitiful ploys, seen her treachery for generations. You know of the children she betrayed with the lich’s help; did you know there were a dozen others like him, all eager to betray everything for the trinkets she promised? Every year another family wailed the disappearance of their child. Every year, another child took another of her pathetic tests of adulthood. Every year, another child was crushed, thrown away like the crust at the end of a piece of bread. And every year, she dumped the body of that used-up child back at their original family, ripping afresh the wound of losing their child.” “I know of that,” said Missy through clenched teeth. “At least, most of it. But none of that matters to me.” Cet threw an icestorm, trying a different spell. “Three children survived her twisted test of manhood. Or womanhood, if you prefer. You. D’Soto. And Anephas. Of the three, you are the only one who has not died yet.” Missy thought grimly of the flashes of light she had experienced early on, when the gods cast their reverse time spells in times of great tragedy and disaster. “Perhaps. But what does that matter?” She launched her blades again, taking satisfaction in the gout of blood that was welling from Cet’s cheek. Cet grinned evilly, the blood on his head shining crimson in the flickering torchlight. “Do you think she cares for this place? Do you think she cares for you? For those you claim to defend? She thinks only of herself. First, last, and always.” “And you are different?” asked Missy. “I make no pretenses of what I want,” responded Cet. “I want this land. I want to mold it to my will. I want to bring forth new and wondrous things that interest me. I want to mix the hydra and the jungle lily to see what they might make. I care little for the other beings in this world, but neither do I pretend to care. I offer them what they want for their assistance, and deliver what I promise. They call me the lord of evil, but what evil is in the truth? Is there not more evil in lies?” “Evil is neither truth nor lie,” said Missy, swinging the Mavin with renewed vigor. “It simply needs to be removed.” Her blade again struck true, drawing another line of ghoulish ichor across Cet’s face. She had been striking true, and dripping lines criss-crossed Cet’s demonic head. As Missy and Cet circled each other yet again, Stackman’s adventurers entered back into the room. The barbarian drew another Mavin sword, and the zenmaster stepped forward with the staff of death. Each was glowing with the unholy essence of the black fire. Missy glanced at the elite group, and sheathing her wakizashi for a moment, pulled her own staff of death from her pack and tossed it toward the valkyrie, allowing another combatant into the fray. “Catch!” she cried. The valkyrie reached out to catch the staff, but at her touch, it shimmered for a moment, and then exploded with tremendous force, releasing all its black fire-induced energy in a matter of milliseconds and sending everyone in the room tumbling head over heels from the concussion. Except for Cet, that is, who tumbled forehead over chin. Apparently some things were not allowed to cross between domains in the Gael Serran, and violating those laws carried severe penalties. The wizard and the bard were furthest from the explosion and recovered first. Taking stock of the party’s status, they doled out healing as fast as they could spin spells. They had heard of what happened when a wand’s body was broken, and this was far, far worse. “Stop!” called Cet. “I have seen enough. I have a bargain for you. You have proven yourself to be a worthy adversary. Have you considered how much more... formidable... we could be as allies? I must inhabit a new host. Think of what you could do with my power! We could rule this land together. Will you let me take over your body as my new host?” Missy stopped dead in her tracks, the events of the past several months flying to her head. Join Cet? Become a god, like Kerah? Return to Kerah what she had given Missy over these years, and now, these past few minutes? What did she care of good or evil now? Why was she here, anyway? To fulfill Kerah’s bidding... perhaps. Did she want to? After all Kerah had put her through? But... could she trust Cet? Was this another bargain like the lich’s bargain, covered in promise but built on hatred and abuse? Or could she override his will, much as she was overriding his physical abilities now in battle? She had learned much in the recent past... but what had the dark pharaoh learned in the past nine hundred years? She didn’t know. And as she contemplated, the zenmaster spoke her name. [ 02-05-2004, 11:50 PM: Message edited by: Bungleau ]

01-22-2004, 10:12 AM	#8
bsftcs Red Dragon Join Date: January 23, 2003 Location: Denmark Age: 45 Posts: 1,577	I expect to have the next chapter ready by Sunday. [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ Moderation is good so long as it is not exaggerated!

01-25-2004, 05:09 PM	#9
macoati Manshoon Join Date: February 27, 2002 Location: WY Age: 55 Posts: 184	whine...whimper It's Sunday here...and almost Monday there, bsftcs... this closet is starting to stink since I've been here for a week [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ Macoati

01-25-2004, 06:56 PM	#10
bsftcs Red Dragon Join Date: January 23, 2003 Location: Denmark Age: 45 Posts: 1,577	And so your patience shall be rewarded. Rewarded twice even. And hey, we have barely reached midnight in the Central European time zone, so I am not even letting you down. [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ Moderation is good so long as it is not exaggerated!

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